Amend the bill by striking out all of section 2 and inserting the following:

SUMMARY

This amendment, like the bill, authorizes the Commissioner of Marine Resources to adopt rules to establish a system by which the number of commercial northern shrimp licenses issued may be limited in a season when the total allowable catch for Maine is less than 2,000 metric tons. The amendment requires the commissioner to consult with members of the northern shrimp industry prior to initiating rulemaking to limit the number of commercial northern shrimp licenses. The amendment also requires the commissioner, if the commissioner limits the number of commercial northern shrimp licenses, to provide a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over marine resources matters regarding management of the northern shrimp resource and the northern shrimp fishing industry. The joint standing committee may report out legislation based upon that report.